1. STRANGE - Convicts to AustraliaBelow are the names of six STRANGE convicts transported to Australia. (There could be more) Please note that the last two came out on the same ship so perhaps they were related and mischievous together.

STRANGE Francis, arrived 1801 in Australia on board the either the "Minorca" or the "Canada (1)", tried in Essex in 1796, and sentenced to 7 years. Both ships sailed 21 June 1801 from Spithead and both arrived in New South Wales on 14 December 1801. "Canada (1)" Shipmaster was Jn Leith and Surgeon was Geo Longstaff. "Minorca" Shipmaster was Jas Sunter and Surgeon was Jos Hislop.

STRANGE James, arrived 1813 in Australia on board the "Fortune (2)", (ie the second voyage of the Fortune to Australia) tried in Middlesex 1811, and sentenced to Life. "Fortune (2)" sailed 03 December 1812 from England arrived 11 June 1813 in New South Wales, Ships Master was Thos Walker.

STRANGE Mathew, arrived 1835 in Australia on board the "Mary Anne II", tried in Somerset in 1835, sentenced to 7 years, 21 year old. "Mary Anne II" sailed 9 July 1835 from Sheerness and arrived in New South Wales on 26 October 1835. Ships Master was Aaron Smith, Surgeon was Campbell France. The "Mary Anne" was a ship frequently utilised for transporting mischievous young ladies. Belinda said, "I am descended from 2 females convicts that arrived on separate voyages of the "Mary Anne" and notes that the convict ships were segregated. I am reliably informed (March 2008) by Catherine Cahill that this voyage was a male only convict run direct from England (Sheerness) to Sydney, Australia with 306 male convicts (30 of which were 'boys' of 15yrs), 2 corporals, 28 private and some family members of the guard on board. Catherine adds, "There are two main sources found in the State Library of NSW: Assignment List for the Mary Anne II - the Medical Journal of the Ships Surgeon, Campbell France, details the embarkation in his "General Remarks". The following is from his Surgeon's Medical Journal: "The Male Convict Ship Mary Ann II of 587 tons, was fitted out at Deptford, in the summer of 1835 for the conveyance of 306 Convicts to Sydney NSW. The Guard was embarked on the 23rd of June: consisting of two Corporals, and 28 privates of the 4th, and 28th Regiments, accompanied with eight women and six children. On the 26th of the same month, the ship dropped down the River, from Deptford, to Woolwich where 150 male Convicts were embarked, from the Institution, and Ganymede Hulks. We then proceded to Sheerness, and on the 30th June 126 male Convicts were embarked, from the Fortitudes and 30 Convict Boys from the Euryalus Hulks, at Chatham completing the number of prisoners on board to 306."

STRANGE Mary Ann, tried at Newgate, on 24 May 1823, departed from Downs on board the "Brothers (1)", which sailed on 6 Dec 1823 and arrived in New South Wales on 7 May 1824. The "Brothers (1)" sailed from Downs on 23 March 1824 and arrived in New South Wales on 7 May 1824. Ships Master was Chas Motley, Surgeon was Jas Hall.

STRANGE Elijah, sailed 16 October 1866 from Portland, on 22 Dec 1866 in Fremantle, (Western Australia) on board the Corona, Registration No: 9309, The Shipmaster was William S Crudace and the Surgeon was William Crauford.

STRANGE Thomas, sailed 16 October 1866 from Portland, arrived on 22 Dec 1866 in Fremantle, (Western Australia) on board the Corona, Registration No: 9310. The Shipmaster was William S Crudace and the Surgeon was William Crauford. 2. FamilesI recently took a breather in my Hall family research to have a first go at the STRANGE side of my family. I eventually become rather overawed and decided to stop searching for (Le) STRANGEs at the moment and go back to my trusty Hall family. I received an email recently from someone also researching the Halls of Wollongong, who had a few queries. Anyway, she emailed again stating: "I have picked up Mary Hall Married Robert Lestrange (various spellings) 1833." Yep, scrape me off the floor. The STRANGEs are on my fathers side of the family in Sydney and the Halls are on my mothers side of the family in Wollongong so Mary and Robert are not cousins who married, as they were prone to doing back then.

3. New South WalesBIRTHS - MARRIAGES - DEATHS

Births - New South Wales - Australia - 1788 to 1905. Listed in family groups

4. New South Wales - InsolvencyAs of May 2004 New South Wales State Records have recently partly added the insolvency list as an online search on their web site at: http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/ They are up to N so far (not S yet) but nevertheless this one may be of interest to someone:L'ESTRANGE William - - Emu Plains Free Selector 28 Dec 1880 16210 13 Jan 18865. South Australia

From Betty Judge: A friend has sent me these South Australian Marriages

STRANGE, ELIZABETHGender : Female Date of Birth : 1802 - Date of Marriage : Unknown - Date of Death : 1882 - LAUNCESTON,Tasmania, Australia No Siblings Found No Children Found No Parents Found

STRANGE, ELIZABETH AMYGender : Female Date of Birth : 1874 - Date of Marriage : 1891 - HOBART,Tasmania, Australia ( to JAMES HENRY HAWES HANKY ) Date of Death : Unknown - No Siblings Found Children Found - 1 Children TASP Family Name Other Names Date Of Birth 171267 HANKEY JOHN JAMES WILLIAM 1892 No Parents Found

Many of the Perth, Western Australian cemeteries (Karrakatta, Pinnaroo, Fremantle, Midland, Guildford) records are now searchable online at: http://mcb.wa.gov.au/NameSearch/search.php I have pasted some searches below.

East Perth cemetry is where the old graves are but there is no official web site. Theres a volunteer listing but there's no STRANGEs mentioned at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~talltrees/EastPerthCem/EastPerthCemA.htm

Found the following on a web page regarding Australian firsts:"On April 14th, 1879, the first person to use a parachute was Henri L'Estrange who jumped from a balloon which had burst over Melbourne. He even wore his brown corduroys."http://www.dinkumaussies.com/MISCELLANY/Firsts.htmI am unsure as to whether Henri was the first person in Australia to use a parachute or the first person ever.

First in Australia, he was."1879 14 April M. Henri L'Estrange, after inflating his balloon "Aurora" with coal gas supplied by the Metropolitan Gas Co. ascended from the Agricultural Society's Ground (Melbourne). His weight calculations had been based on the quality of Sydney gas, which being inferior to Melbourne gas, caused him an error amounting to an underestimate of 700 lbs. This gave him an accelerated ascent and resulted in his attaining an estimated 9,000 ft. in a short time. The balloon burst but with the aid of a parachute he descended safely though badly shaken." http://www.bankstownairport.com.au/fun_facts/balloons/Balloons_Australia/index.htm

More aircraft stuff:"On 7 October 1995, with Squadron Leader Joe L'Estrange and CAA Captain Roger Frampton at the controls, XL426 moved under her own power for the first time since arriving at Southend nine years previously."http://www.xl426.com/vrthistory.htm

Squadron Commander Cecil J. Estrange Malone:Britain's Bold Strike From the Sea On Christmas Day 1914, an audacious British air attack on a Zeppelin base in northern Germany caught the Germans with their defenses down. By Timothy J. Kuttahttp://www.thehistorynet.com/AviationHistory/articles/1997/0197_text.htm

Beli - Western Australia - who just discovered that her grandfather (surname Ireland) was in the 54th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battery at Darwin during the bombing in WWII and is searching on aircraft web sites.

For Wendy O'Keeffe's family see my "Essex" page

From: Jim & Julia SchmitzSubject: Mary Ann STRANGE Date sent: Mon, 17 Jun 2002Mary Ann STRANGE was born in 1822, possibly in Dublin. She died in 1860 in Victoria. She married Joseph Impey on 10 March 1841 (Age 19) in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. They had five issue to the marriage.

From David Vincent STRANGEMarriage of his grandfather Vincent William STRANGE (born Abingdon, Berkshire, England 1846) in South Australia 13 April 1881 in Marriage Index 127_78 to Mary Elizabeth NOONAN (born c1860 in Limerick, Ireland) They had issue:

1881 Jul 28 Edith Mary STRANGE b Maylands, Adelaide Book 266 Page 94

1883 May 07 Vincent STRANGE b Norwood, South Australia Book Book 303 Page 33 Issue Roy who had issue of two boys.

1886 Aug 29 Helen Mary STRANGE b Malvern, Book 380 Page 381 She became a medical GP, remained single, living at Knaphill, Woking in 1970 and died here 1976 Jan 08. (I am awaiting confirmation from Dave that this is Knapp Hill, Woking, Surrey)

1888/1889 Laurence Linklater STRANGE, registered as 12 in 1901 Census, born Sussex, Australia, recorded as resident at 23 Alcester Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, England at the time he was killed while serving as Private (No 33253) in 1st Bat'n of Somerset Light Infantry He died 1917 Jul 22 from wounds received at the Battle of Arras. Recorded as being the son of the late W.V. STRANGE of EalingLondonSee Wiltshire for further siblings ...

From Richard HobbsAt present all my research has been concentrated in the UK, but I have recently come across a Memorial Inscription at Toddington, Bedfordshire, England Churchyard recorded circa 1900 as follows: "John STRANGE, who departed this life December 23rd, 1852, aged 64 years. Also of William STRANGE son of the above, who died in Australia, July 19th, 1854, aged 39 years". Could anybody please give me a few pointers of where to look to obtain details of William STRANGE and any of his kin in Australia.

A reply was received from Phil E G Plumbe that said he had found: Digger - Pioneer Index. Victoria 1836-1888

From: Richard HobbsThe following is an extract from 1854 Deaths in the District of Melbourne relating toWilliam STRANGE:-(a) When and where died 6th July 1854 Collingwood.(b) Name and Surname and rank or profession-William STRANGE Ironmonger.(c) Sex and age- Male , 39 years.(d) Cause of death-Disceased Liver not certified.(e) Signature, description and Residence of informant and witness R F Barr present at death, Collingwood.(f) Deputy Registrar Edward Arnold.(g) No indication of where buried or by who.(h) Where born, and how long in Australian Colonies, stating which - Bedfordshire England, 18 months in Victoria.(j) If deceased was married, where at what age and to whom- England, Mary Sibbela Wolfe.(k) Issue in order of birth, state name and age Mary 2 (years?).

From IGI William STRANGE married Mary Sibbela Wolfe on 21st December 1840 at Woburn, Beds. and age of husband is given as 21, wife age 29. If William died at age of 39 years as 1854 death entry this would mean he was born 1815 whereas marriage entry of IGI would have him born 1819 (1840-21). There is no indication whether his wife Mary came out to Australia with him or who R F Barr was.

Terri said in June 2004With reference to William STRANGE from Linton, Cambridgeshire, England .. his son Edward STRANGE married Mary Ann Howe in Sydney Australia. I have a connect to this family through Mary Ann Howe and would like to share some information with any relatives; especially Barry Dean whom I have been trying to contact.

Here are some 20th Century Perth burials that Beli sent in November 2004

From Yvette L'Estrange May 2005I had a little look around and appears there are no L'Estrange's here as yet. I am researching L'Estrange's from Offaly (Kings County Ireland). My family came to Australia in 1841 - If there are any L'Estrange's out there - I would love to here from you. Also, I have a lot of information about L'Estrange's in Australia so if anyone would like information please let me know.

From Pat de HaerI found these entries on passenger lists:From Melbourne Victoria Australia:John S STRANGE single 27 Miner Australian, sailing from Melbourne to Adelaide on the White Swan 15 April 1862.Samuel STRANGE 29 Miner sailed from Melbourne to Port Chalmers (NZ) on the Bruce 17 October 1862.Footnote: There were hundreds of Miners leaving Melbourne at this time all joining the gold rush in the South Island of New Zealand.Mrs STRANGEr British 28 sailed Melbourne to Sydney on the Rangatera 11 December 1862.

From Janelle Westlake Nov 2005Alice Loiuse Westlake m. John Henderson William Le STRANGE in Queensland, Aus 13 Apr 1895.Alice was nee Baker and is my husband's great grandmother Alice. There are two registered births for ther children here in Queensland:1896 , Jan 16 Eileen Pearl L'Estrange , Brisbane QLD1897 , Feb 28 Eric Francis Hudson L'Estrange , BrisbaneAlice died 1936, buried March 31, 1936 in Toowong Cemetery , Brisbane, QLD You can search this cemetery on-line through the Brisbane City Council Web site. The father and the two children must then have gone to NZ.I would love to find out what happened to Eileen and Eric

Women's Suffrage Petition (1891) - Victoria, AustraliaFrom: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/WomensPetition/background.htm"In an extraordinary effort to gain the right to vote for all Victorian women, a handful of dedicated women took to the streets in 1891 to collect signatures for a petition to present to the Parliament of Victoria. The result was an impressive collection of close to 30,000 signatures from women from all walks of life."On there are images of the original signatures of petitioners; I found two STRANGE:Louisa STRANGE, 290 Main St, BallaratC.M STRANGE, Moreland.

Ed Hanson said that The Ballarat family are descendants from the Turville (Buckinghamshire, England) blacksmiths. William STRANGE (1785-1875), the eldest son of Thomas, blacksmith of Turville (1763?-1845), emigrated to Australia in 1848 with his second wife and their children.

The grandfather of a Bert STRANGE in Ballarat, Australia, was a witness at the Eureka Rebellion in 1854 and apparently did a lot of good work. His research collection is now in the care of Sovereign Hill at the Gold Museum in Ballarat.

Marg Keable said she went to the Gold Museum and met the curator and some others. They showed me the index to the Bert STRANGE collection and some maps he made. There is a huge quantity of items. They also photocopied the following information from the book "The Eureka Encyclopedia" Edmund STRANGE 1830-1900. (Here is an extract). Edmund STRANGE was born on 10 March 1830 in London, the son of William and Ann STRANGE. He was baptised at St Sepulchre, London, he grew up at Stokenhurch. The family came to Australia on the Berkshire in 1848. They arrived at Point Henry, Geelong at by Oct 3 1848 they were at Dalton's Flat to start mining. He died 16 April 1900 and is buried at the Ballarat New Cemetery. His grandson is Bert STRANGE 1912-1997. He was a historian, author of a number of books about Ballarat and collected a huge number of books, letters and other items about Ballarat and the area. He prospected after his retirement. His father was Frederick Jason STRANGE and his mother, Sariphena nee Dellaca. Bert attended Golden Point Primary School. He was on many committees in Ballarat.

Bert was an advisor to Sovereign Hill when it was first set up. He was steeped in mining history especially as it related to the gold around Ballarat. He was a freemason. He had been taken to the site of the Eureka rebellion by his grandfather. Interestingly the site of the rebellion is subject to much debate and contention in Ballarat. He wrote a book about it but where he says it is located is disputed by some.

Ed Hanson commented in August 2006:I think that the identification in the Eureka Encyclopedia of Edmund STRANGE of Ballarat with someone baptized at St Sepulchre in London in 1830 and then grew up in Stokenchurch is incorrect. If you look at the 1841 census of Stokenchurch, the only family there with parents William and Ann and son Edmund is the following: William STRANGE, 55, chairmaker; Ann, 37; Caroline, 13; Edmund, 11; Jesse, 9; Hallin, 7; Harriot, 4; Jeson, 1. All individuals were listed as having been born in the county of Oxfordshire. Edmund appears in that parish in his baptismal record on 16 May 1830. According to a letter I received twenty years ago from Mary Beaumont, a descendant of this family, William STRANGE with his second wife and their family (Caroline, Edmund, Jesse, Allen, Harriet, Jason and Emily) emigrated to Australia in 1848, arriving at Point Henry aboard the Berkshire [REF: Mrs Mary Beaumont nee Kelly, 7 Bulga Street, Mooroolbark, Victoria 3138, Australia, 7 April 1985]. Mary later updated that information on website http://www.firstfamilies2001.net.au/, but that site doesn't seem to be active anymore.

From Shirley August 2006The STRANGE family comes in through my WHITE family tree. Ann WHITE b. 1804 (daug. of Robert White & Jane Towerton) was a cousin to my g-g grand father, John White b. 1803, m. Jane Young. John and Jane White came out to Vic., Australia in 1844, aboard the Wallace. Ann WHITE married William STRANGE, and they were the great grand parents of William Albert (Bert) STRANGE, as mentioned above.

I have just toured around Tasmania a bit and researched a bit about this Mary STRANGE - It appears she was brought out by her convict husband from Wiltshire, the 1941 date may be when she landed. I have photocopies and. My wife is related from her daughter Susan Heath who moved to New Zealand.